Lee Chess Club Rules
 Chess
Club members must always adhere to all Lee library rules. Sorry, no
snacks are allowed. A small snack (or treat) will be given to members
at the end of each meeting, as children leave the library.
Students are expected to treat the library, other Chess Club members,
volunteers and teachers with respect and consideration. We hope Chess
Club will be enjoyable for all, but it will be administered as an educational
opportunity rather than as a childcare program. Children who are consistently
not able to focus on learning chess and playing the game will be asked
to leave the club. Children may choose not to attend Chess Club on any
particular Wednesday, but when they do attend they will be expected
to learn and play with an appropriate level of seriousness for the entire
hour.
Students may begin playing games as soon as they get to the library.
But they will be expected to pause their games to participate in each
week's short instructional session.
 Students
will be expected to take some initiative in finding appropriate opponents,
(rather than just playing the same friends each week). For example,
they should be aware of their current ranking in the club and seek out
opponents with similar rankings.
Students should make every attempt to finish their games. If a game
cannot be finished by the end of chess club, they should record the
board setup (on sheets provided) and then reset the game the following
week. Generally, they should not agree to draws (unless the game is
actually a positional draw). If players do not attempt to finish their
games they will never learn one of the most challenging aspects of chess:
the end game.
We will be practicing "touch moves" in Chess Club. This
means if a player touches a piece, that's the piece she must move. When
she takes her hand off that piece, her move is final. This is not only
a tournament rule, it's a good way to learn respect for the board. Students
should learn to be careful about preserving their games. If a player
sabotages the results of a game, such as by carelessly knocking over
pieces, he may be declared loser by default. If he is consistently involved
in games that cannot be completed (or in which the results are disputed)
he may lose points, or be asked to leave the club.
 Occasionally,
players accidentally make illegal moves (such as not realizing when
they are in check). When this happens they should try to cooperate with
their opponent in retracing the game back to the last legal position
(this is much easier if they've been recording their moves with chess
notation).
In general, games should follow standard tournament rules. Players
may agree up front, however, to special rules (such as timed "blitz"
chess). The results of these games should still be recorded in the rankings
computer unless both players have agreed in advance that the game will
not be recorded. Non-recorded games should be the exception, not the
rule. Typically, the only games that should not be recorded are "mentoring"
games, where both players agree in advance that the game will be discussed
as they go along and played strictly for learning purposes.
 One
important aspect of tournament play that cannot always be replicated
in Chess Club is the use of time rules. Chess clocks are simply too
expensive to provide to all players. We do have some clocks, which will
be reserved for players who are practicing for actual tournament play.
Clocks may also be inserted into a game when two players are at odds
over how much time to take with each move. Whenever there are extra
clocks, students who want to play "speed chess" may use them
on a first-come-first-serve basis. Students may bring their own clocks
to Chess Club if they want to be sure to always have a clock.
RULES OF CONDUCT
1. Always be courteous.
* Show good sportsmanship at all times
* No name calling, teasing or taunting
* No throwing chess pieces
* Always end games with a handshake and "Good Game."
* Follow all general Lee Elementary rules regarding good behavior.
 3.
Play only chess at Chess Club - No Gameboy or electronic games, checkers,
homework, etc.
4. Never make comments regarding the game if you are not one of the
players of the game (unless both players have invited you to mentor
them). Visiting parents should be especially careful
about not making comments (or gasps!) during"official" games
that will be recorded and effect student rankings.
5. No running around or being loud - or participating in any other
activity that would distract the chess players.
6. Remain in the Lee Library for the duration of the Chess Club meeting
until being signed out by a parent/guardian or escorted back to afterschool
care. Check with a parent volunteer to use the rest-room or get a drink
of water.
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